Pediatric Audiology

The Audiology Department at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital offers a comprehensive program of professional hearing services. Hearing evaluations have a variety of components and may differ from one person to the next, depending on age and specific problems.

We perform each evaluation in accordance with American Academy of Audiology guidelines. Our audiologists have advanced degrees and are licensed by the state of Texas and certified nationally. In addition to hearing evaluations, we offer prevention programs and personalized rehabilitation for people with hearing and vestibular impairments.

Hearing Tests

Pediatric Audiogram (PA)

Designed to meet the special needs of children, the pediatric audiogram evaluates hearing using behavioral observation audiometry (BOA), visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA) or play audiometry (PA).

Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)

The ABR measures how well sound is transmitted to the brain. The test is used to evaluate hearing loss in infants, small children and people who are unable to respond to traditional hearing tests. Electrodes are placed on the earlobes and forehead to measure responses to clicking sounds. The ABR can detect blockages or interruptions in sound transmitted to the hearing nerve. Children must be asleep during the test; any movement, including the eyes, will interfere with test results. Your doctor may prescribe a mild sedative to help your child fall asleep for the test.

Otoacoustic Emission (OAE)

Otoacoustic emissions are measured by placing a microphone in the opening of the ear canal and reading the signals coming from the ear. This test evaluates an aspect of inner ear function.
Newborn Hearing Screening

The Texas Department of Health requires that all newborns receive a hearing screening by auditory brainstem response (ABR) or otoacoustic emission (OAE) before discharge from our hospital.

Ototoxic Monitoring

Certain prescribed medications may have side effects that negatively affect hearing or balance. We provide ongoing monitoring to safeguard the hearing of patients taking medications that may be ototoxic, or harmful to the ear.

Tympanometry

Tympanometry assesses the mobility of the eardrum, which is part of the middle ear system. The test involves placing a small rubber plug into the ear canal, then measuring how the eardrum moves while pressure is varied in the ear canal. Middle ear problems often can be treated medically or surgically.

Contact Us

For more information, please call 713-486-5000.

Contact Us

To contact Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, please fill out the form below or call (713) 704-5437.

Many physicians affiliated with Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital are faculty at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth. The affiliated physicians from McGovern Medical School consults with patients at UT Physicians clinic with all advanced treatments provided at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital.